An Air Canada Express flight, operated by PAL Airlines and utilizing a Bombardier DHC-8-402Q aircraft, sustained substantial damage in a landing accident at Halifax Stanfield International Airport.
An Air Canada Express flight operated by PAL Airlines from Newfoundland experienced a landing gear malfunction, resulting in a partial fire and emergency evacuation at Halifax Stanfield International Airport at approximately 9:30 p.m. local time.
One passenger described the ordeal to CBC News: “The plane tilted about 20 degrees to the left, accompanied by a loud crashing noise as the wing scraped the pavement.”
The aircraft, typically accommodating around 80 passengers, was reportedly near full capacity; however, the exact number onboard remains unconfirmed.
🚨 JUST IN: Air Canada flight lands in Halifax with a broken landing gear, resulting in the wing scraping the runway causing a fire
The airport is currently CLOSED.
This comes just hours after a Boeing 737 attempted a landing without warning extending its gear in South Korea,… pic.twitter.com/Givga3hDEn
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) December 29, 2024Emergency services, including paramedics and the Nova Scotia RCMP, responded swiftly. An airport spokesperson confirmed that all passengers and crew were evacuated safely and received medical assessments in a hangar.
Read: Over 60 Dead in Jeju Air Boeing 737 Crash at Muan International Airport
Authorities are investigating the cause of the landing gear failure, considering mechanical, procedural, or external factors.
Simultaneously, a tragic aviation accident occurred in South Korea, where a Jeju Air flight from Bangkok to Muan crashed upon landing, claiming 179 lives out of 181 passengers. Video footage captured the aircraft engulfed in flames shortly after touching down.
